A nonmatriculated student is a student taking classes while not officially admitted to a degree-granting program. Generally, to be eligible for financial aid you must be a matriculated student in an approved Temple University degree program. The only exception is for nonmatriculated students who are taking courses required for admission into an approved Temple University degree program or nonmatriculated students enrolled in courses required by the state of Pennsylvania for elementary or secondary teacher certification or recertification. Students taking preparatory coursework that are already accepted into a degree program are not eligible for the exception to receive federal funding.
Nonmatriculated Students (Undergraduate or Graduate Students)
If you are taking courses required for admissions into a Temple University degree program, file the FAFSA and complete the Non-Matriculated Student Direct Loan form, then you can be considered for federal Direct Loan funding for a period of 12 consecutive months. The actual amount of federal loan funding you can borrow will depend upon your borrowing history, dependency status, cost of attendance and financial need.
Eligibility Requirements
- All nonmatriculated students who wish to borrow federal student loan funds must have a completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file with Temple University for the enrolled academic year.
- All nonmatriculated students who wish to borrow Federal student loan funds must complete the appropriate form:
- Summer 2025 Non-Matriculated Student Direct Loan Form.
- Fall 2025 & Spring 2026 Non-Matriculated Student Direct Loan Form.
- Nonmatriculated students who are required to complete courses as part of admission/entry into a degree-granting program may have one year (12 months) of eligibility to borrow a federal Direct Loan and/or PLUS loan based on continual enrollment.
- Nonmatriculated students must be enrolled at least part-time during a semester (six credits for undergraduate students and 4.5 credits for graduate students) to qualify for federal Direct loan funding.
- A nonmatriculated dependent student taking courses to receive admission into an undergraduate or graduate program is eligible to receive the PLUS loan if their parent receives credit approval.
- A nonmatriculated dependent student taking courses to receive admission into an undergraduate or graduate program whose parent’s credit is declined for the PLUS loan may be eligible to receive additional federal Direct unsubsidized loan funding.
- A nonmatriculated independent undergraduate and independent graduate student cannot borrow a PLUS loan.
- New federal Direct loan borrowers must complete a Master Promissory Note and Entrance Counseling for Federal Student Loan funding online, studentaid.gov.
Nonmatriculated Student Teacher Certification
Eligibility Requirements
- All students who wish to borrow federal student loan funds must have a completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file with Temple University for the enrolled academic year.
- Nonmatriculated students who are enrolled in courses required by the state of Pennsylvania for elementary or secondary teacher certification or recertification.
- All students who wish to borrow federal student loan funds must complete the appropriate form:
- New federal Direct loan borrowers must complete a Master Promissory Note and Entrance Counseling by going online to studentaid.gov.
- The maximum a dependent full-time student may borrow in a year is $5,500 in federal Direct Subsidized loan funding and an independent full-time student may be eligible for up to an additional $7,000 in federal Direct Unsubsidized loan funding. Dependent students may receive a Parent PLUS Loan if the credit is approved.
NOTE: Optional courses or certification programs that are not required by the state for elementary or secondary teacher certification that a student elects to take for professional recognition or advancement do not qualify.
Non-Degree Aid Federal Direct Loan Eligibility
Non-Degree students may be eligible for federal loans, but they are not eligible for federal and institutional grants and most scholarships. Federal loan offers are subject to annual and lifetime limits. All students requesting federal loans must submit a FAFSA, be eligible for federal aid, and be in good standing on any previously borrowed federal loans. A dependent student is one who is under the age of 24. The parents of dependent students may borrow the federal Parent PLUS loan on behalf of their student.
Annual Loan Limits for Prepatory Coursework
For prepatory coursework required for enrollment in an undergraduate program:
ependent Undergraduate students excluding Dependent Undergraduates whose parents cannot borrow the Direct Parent PLUS loan.
- Maximum Subsidized: $2,625
- Total Subsidized and Unsubsidized Eligibility: $2,625
- This is subject to the Dependent Undergraduate lifetime limit of $31,000 (of which no more than $23,000 can be subsidized)
Independent Undergraduate Students and Dependent Undergraduates whose parents cannot borrow the Direct Parent PLUS loan.
- Maximum Subsidized: $2,625
- Total Subsidized and Unsubsidized Eligibility: $8,625
- This is subject to the Independent Undergraduate lifetime limit of $57,500 (of which no more than $23,000 can be subsidized)
For prepatory coursework required for enrollment in a graduate program (ex: CST's Post-Bacc Programs):
Dependent Undergraduate students excluding Dependent Undergraduates whose parents cannot borrow the Direct Parent PLUS loan.
- Maximum Subsidized: $5,500
- Total Subsidized and Unsubsidized Eligibility: $5,500
- This is subject to the Dependent Undergraduate lifetime limit of $31,000 (of which no more than $23,000 can be subsidized)
Independent Undergraduate Students and Dependent Undergraduates whose parents cannot borrow the Direct Parent PLUS loan.
- Maximum Subsidized: $5,500
- Total Subsidized and Unsubsidized Eligibility: $12,500
- This is subject to the Independent Undergraduate lifetime limit of $57,500 (of which no more than $23,000 can be subsidized)
For Teacher Certification Coursework:
Dependent Undergraduate students excluding Dependent Undergraduates whose parents cannot borrow the Direct Parent PLUS loan
- Maximum Subsidized: $5,500
- Total Subsidized and Unsubsidized Eligibility: $5,500
- This is subject to the Dependent Undergraduate lifetime limit of $31,000 (of which no more than $23,000 can be subsidized)
Independent Undergraduate Students and Dependent Undergraduates whose parents cannot borrow the Direct Parent PLUS loan.
- Maximum Subsidized: $5,500
- Total Subsidized and Unsubsidized Eligibility: $12,500
- This is subject to the Independent Undergraduate lifetime limit of $57,500 (of which no more than $23,000 can be subsidized)